A devastating accident involving a firefighter vehicle in the village of São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, resulted in at least one fatality and four serious injuries this Sunday. The vehicle plunged down a ravine.
At least one firefighter died and four are in serious condition after the accident. The most severely injured firefighter was airlifted to Coimbra, according to SIC Notícias.
There are conflicting reports about a possible second fatality. The Portuguese Firefighters' League (LBP) initially reported two deaths in a Facebook post, which was later edited. The LBP president denied the second death to SIC Notícias, and the ANEPC also did not confirm it.
The firefighters were en route to combat wildfires when the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ravine. The accident occurred around 7:00 PM.
According to Lusa, citing the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), the vehicle was heading to a rural wildfire that broke out in the Fundão municipality. The fire started in the Quinta do Campo area.
In response to the accident, 26 operatives were mobilized, supported by nine vehicles and one aerial means, including resources from the Covilhã and Fundão Volunteer Firefighters, the GNR, and INEM.
"It cannot be overstated the commitment, altruism, and professionalism with which thousands of firefighters across the country dedicate themselves daily, with courage and dedication, to defending populations and forests against fires," emphasized the ANEPC in a statement, offering condolences to the family of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
This incident adds to the toll of this year's wildfires, which have already claimed the life of a former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão in the past 25 days, bringing the total fatalities to three.
President of the Republic Mourns "Tragic Death"
The President of the Republic expressed his sorrow over the "tragic death" of a Covilhã firefighter in a road accident while "fully serving the community" in the context of fighting rural wildfires, which also left other operatives injured.
"The President of the Republic has just learned of the tragic death of a firefighter from the Covilhã brigade, in a road accident, occurred while fully serving the community in the fight against fires, where two of his comrades were also seriously injured," reads a note published on the Presidency's website.
In the note, the head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, highlighted that the accident occurred after "10 days of uninterrupted, limitless dedication" by all operatives.
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